Bougainvillea plant named `Rpboug 327`

ABSTRACT

A distinct of Bougainvillea plant named `Rpboug 327`, characterized by its compact and upright growth habit; moderate to rapid growth rate; thornless stems; purple flower bracts; and spherical inflorescences with numerous flowers.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofBougainvillea plant, botanically known as Bougainvillea, spectabilis,and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name Rpboug 327. The newBougainvillea is marketed under the trade name Vera Deep Purple.

The new Bougainvillea was discovered by the inventor in a controlledenvironment in Schipluiden, The Netherlands, in May, 1996, as anaturally-occurring mutation of the Bougainvillea spectabilis cultivar`Vera Light Purple`, (disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser.No. 08/959,903). The new Bougainvillea was observed as a single plantwith darker purple flower bracts in a group of plants of the parentcultivar.

Asexual reproduction of the new Bougainvillea by terminal cuttings takenat Schipluiden, The Netherlands, has shown that the unique features ofthis new Bougainvillea are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of `Rpboug 327`. These characteristics incombination distinguish `Rpboug 327` as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Upright and compact growth habit.

2. Moderate to rapid growth rate.

3. Thornless stems.

4. Purple flower bracts.

5. Spherical inflorescences with numerous flowers.

The new Bougainvillea has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensity,without, however, any variance in genotype.

Plants of the new Bougainvillea are similar to plants of the nonpatentedBougainvillea cultivar `Alexander`. However, in side-by-sidecomparisions conducted in Schipluiden, The Netherlands, plants of thenew Bougainvillea were more compact, grew faster, and were morefloriferous. In addition, plants of the new Bougainvillea had sphericalinflorescences whereas plants of the cultivar `Alexander` do not formspherical inflorescences.

Plants of the new Bougainvillea can also be compared to plants of itsparent cultivar, `Vera Light Purple`, disclosed in U.S. Plant patentapplication Ser. No. 08/959,903. However, in side-by-side comparisionsconducted in Schipluiden, The Netherlands, plants of the newBougainvillea had darker purple flower bracts, more flowers perinflorescence, and slightly smaller flowers.

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

On the first sheet, the top photograph comprises a top perspective viewof a typical plant of `Rpboug 327`.

The bottom photograph on the first sheet comprises a top perspectiveview of a typical inflorescence of `Rpboug 327`.

The photograph on the second sheet comprises a close-up view of typicalflowers of `Rpboug 327`. The flower and foliage colors in thesephotographs may appear different than the actual colors due to lightreflectance.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe plants grown in 13-cm containers inSchipluiden, The Netherlands, in a glass-covered greenhouse with daytemperatures ranging from 16 to 35° C. and minimum night temperatures of15° C.

Botanical classification: Bougainvillea spectabilis cultivar `Rpboug327`.

Parentage: Naturally-occurring mutation of Bougainvillea spectabiliscultivar Vera Light Purple (disclosed in U.S. Plant patent applicationSer. No. 08/959,903).

Propagation:

Type.--Terminal cuttings.

Time to rooting.--Summer: About 10 weeks with soil temperatures of 25 to30° C. Winter: About 16 weeks with soil temperatures of 20 to 25° C.

Rooting habit.--Fibrous and freely branching.

Plant description:

Apperance.--Upright and compact woody shrub. Removal of terminal apices(pinching) enhances lateral branch development. Appropriate for 9 to30-cm containers.

Plant height from soil level to top of plant plane.--About 28 cm.

Plant width/spread.--About 20 to 25 cm.

Growth rate.--Moderate to rapid.

Vigor.--Moderate.

Crop time.--Starting with a rooted cutting, about 8 months are requiredto produce a finished flowering plant in a 13-cm container.

Stem description.--Diameter: About 5 mm. Internode length: About 2.5 cm.Texture: Glabrous and thornless. Color: Gray/green.

Foliage description.--Single, alternate, symmetrical. Size (largestleaves): Length: About 9 cm. Width: About 5.25 cm. Shape: Ovate. Apex:Apiculate. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture: Leathery, glabrous.Petiole length: About 2.5 cm. Color: Upper surface: Close to 147A. Undersurface: Close to 146A. Venation: Lighter green than leaf surface.Petiole: Lighter green than leaf surface, similar to venation.

Flower description:

Appearance.--Cymose inflorescences that are spherical in shape andapetalous with a tubular modified calyx and conspicuous bracts.

Numer of flowers per inflorescence.--About 60.

Inflorescence diameter.--About 12 cm.

Inflorescence height.--About 14 cm.

Flower diameter.--About 3 cm.

Flower height.--About 4 cm.

Bracts.--Three showy purple bracts that are fused at the base andundulate with weak interveinal rugosity. Length: About 3.4 cm. Width:About 2.6 cm. Shape: Broadly ovate. Apex: Acute to apiculate. Base:Weakly auriculate. Margin: Entire. Color: Mature, upper side: Between71D and 74B. Mature, under side: Between 71D and 74B. Venation, upperside: 144D/154C. Venation, under side: 144D/154C.

Calyx.--Appearance: Fused and tubular 5-lobed limb; pedicel confluentwith the main vein of the supporting bract. Length: About 1.1 cm. Width:About 7 mm. Color: Apex: Cream, close to 158B, with light green tinge.Base: Light green with red tinge.

Reproductive organs.--Stamens: Five, yellow. Pistils: One, translucentwhite.

Disease resistance: Resistance to known Bougainvillea diseases has notbeen observed to date on plants grown under commercial greenhouseconditions.

Seed production: Seed production on plants of the new Bougainvillea hasnot been observed.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Bougainvillea plantnamed `Rpboug 327`, as illustrated and described.